The center of Ferndale is about six blocks from Morningstar, and offers art galleries, restaurants, and a repertory theater, as well as an array of charming antique shops and boutiques. The architecture is pure Victorian, giving Ferndale the name of 'The Victorian Village'.

A scenic five mile drive will bring you to the sweeping beauty of the Centerville Beach, which marks the northern end of the Lost Coast. Dogs are welcome here. The Avenue of the Giants is a short drive from Ferndale, and you can hike all day at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, while a few miles inland you can swim at Swimmers Delight on the Van Dusen river. Drive north, and you will come to the most beautiful beaches in the world - Moonstone Beach, Agate Beach and Big Lagoon. Most beaches allow dogs. Eureka, just north of Ferndale, offers a greater variety of restaurants. In Old Town Eureka you can visit the Clarke Museum for the best display of Indian baskets and artefacts outside a university. For Indian cultural events, you can contact Patrick's Point State Park, and visit the reconstructed Yurok village there.

A short stroll down a country lane brings you to the County Fairgrounds, where you can enjoy the many events that are held there. In August the old-fashioned County Fair (click here for pictures of the Fair) brings visitors from far afield to enjoy the carnival, as well as the many events and demonstrations. From quilts to home-made preserves and dairy cows to fancy chickens, there is something for everyone.

In May, Ferndale hosts the finish of the wild and crazy Kinetic Sculpture Race, (click here for pictures of the race)

Built in the late 1800's, the original farmhouse served a large dairy farm. In more recent years, it became an Arabian horse ranch, and currently is home to horses and a rare plant nursery. The farmhouse has been recently remodeled, bringing back much of the appeal of the Victorian interior, but also providing the comfort of every modern amenity. There is a deck with a barbecue where you can relax and enjoy the views across the meadows and smoke if you wish (no smoking in the house). The landscaped side yard also provides private outdoor seating. To make your vacation complete, you can bring your pets with you, and there is a securely fenced back yard for your dog.

The family farms that surround Morningstar are dairy farms that are renowned for the quality of their dairy products, as well as the management of their dairy herds and their land. Nearby in Fernbridge is the Humboldt Creamery, where milk is processed from the cows you see grazing next door. In nearby Loleta is the Loleta Cheese Factory, where you can see prize-winning organic cheeses being made from the local dairy herds.